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The use of the description AOC Minervois La Livinière (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) is covered by a decree of 1999.
The territory covered by this appellation is that of six villages : Azillanet, Cesseras, Félines-Minervois, La Livinière and Siran in the Hérault and Azille in the Aude. The total extent available to this appellation amounts to 2,600 hectares of which, in 1999, some 150 hectares are being exploited by 20 indiviual producers and 4 Cooperatives for a total production of 6,000 hl.
The land in this sector is arid, with a low rainfall between 400 and 500 mm giving a large deficit in the summer. Hot summer days are contrasted with cooler airs descending from the Causse during the nights.
In order to use the appellation "AOC Minervois La Livinière", the wines must be made only from specified grape varieties and the use of these varieties is subject to some limitations on percentage content within the wine's makeup.
There is a target yield of 45 hectolitres per hectare and a limit specified for maximum production yield per hectare of 54 hectolitres, a minimum planting density of 4000 plants per hectare for all new plantings or replantings and some constraints on the methods and styles of pruning.
- Wines are limited to the following varieties :
| grenache noir | | | ) | minimum 60% |
| syrah noire | ) | minimum 40% of quantity | ) |
| mourvèdre noir | ) | ) |
| lladoner-pelut noir | | | |
| carignan noir | | | |
| cinsault noir | | | |
| picpoul noir | | | |
| terret noir | | | |
| aspiran noir | | | |
AOC Minervois La Livinière wines must have a minimum alcohol content of 12% volume and be produced from grapes harvested when well ripe.
Well ripened grapes must have a minimum sugar content of 200g/l.
To qualify for the La Livinière label, the wines must be matured at the vineyard at least 15 months before being bottled. The date of 1st November of the year following the harvest has been specified as the earliest date for bottling. During the period of maturation, the wines will be sampled twice before qualifying as AOC Minervois La Livinière and a third sampling will check the quality prior to bottling.
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